Wheel-suspension means for motor vehicles



May 7, 1929. G. FORNACA WHEEL SUSPENSION MEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FiledJuly 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Inventor: @uLcZo Fornaca.

Attorney- May 7, 1929. v FORNACA 1,711,881

WHEEL SUSPENSION MEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 13, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Inven Z or: Guido Enrnaca AZCor-ney Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED ,STATES GUIDO FORNAOA, OF TURIN, ITALY.

WHEEL-SUSPENSION MEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed July 13, 1927', Serial No. 205,459, and in Italy July16, 1926.

This invention relates to suspension means for vehicles and moreparticularly to resilient suspension means for driving and steeringwheels of motor Vehicles.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved suspension inWhich each wheel 1s carried by a memberwhich in turn is con nected withthe vehicle frame by means comprising a substantially inextensiblemember as a rod or a leaf spring, and a resilient member adaptedto yieldin the direction of the oscillations of the Wheel withrespectto thevehicle, said resilient member being connected with the vehicle frame ata point located at a vertical distance with respect to said inextensiblemember. I

Another object of this invention is toprovide a suspension of the kindabove referred to in which said wheel carrying member com prises aswivel member and said longitudinally resilient member provides forsteerin movement of said swivel. 1

Another object is to provide a shock damper or absorber which includesresilient susension means and which is adapted to be embodied in a wheelsuspension of the type above referred to.

Another object of this invention is the provision of driving means forvehicle wheels mounted by the suspension means hereinafter described anda further object is the provision of an arrangement for attaching theend of said resilientmember, said arrangement comprising a rigidstructure which includes a mud-guard supporting bracket and a stiffeningcross bar which also acts to support the vehicle headlights. v

In the annexed drawings areshown by way of example two constructions ofsuspensions according to this invention, and

Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts in section of one embodiment ofthis invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same with parts removed,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, to an enlargedscale;

Figure 4 is a front view of a modified construction with parts insection and Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of Figure 4 with partsomitted.

In the embodiment of Figures 1,2 and 3, 1 is the differential "casing ofa motor vehicle from which extends on each side a shaft 2 coupled at itsinner end with the differential gear by means of a Cardan or flexiblejoint ing, the figu swivel 5 provides an enlarged hollow head 9enclosing the joint 33 and having a top trunnion 10 and a bottom balltrunnion 11, said trunnions 10 l1 being aligned on a common axis passingthrough the centre of the joint 3-3 and providin for steeringoscillation of the swivel mem er 59 and wheel mounted thereon; saidwheel is shown diagrammatically in dotted outline in Figure 1.

The top trunnion 10 provides a piston 12 having a packing 13 andarranged to rotate and reciprocate within a cylinder 14 which is pivotedat 15 on a rigid structure comprising a bracket 16 fastened on thevehicle frame 17 and a cross bar 18 extending transverse to the vehicle;said cross bar 18 is connected by an upright 19 with the differentialgear casing 1, this casing being in turn fastened on the vehicle frame.

Said bracket 16 and cross bar 18 are conveniently availed of forsupporting thev mud guard 20 for the wheel (shown in dotted outline toleave in view the parts under it) and the vehicle headlight 21, asillustrated.

The cylinder 14 is provided near its mouth with inturned flan es 22between which a packing ring 23 is located.

An outer telescoping cover or protecting cylinder 24 rigidly connectedwith trunnion 1O embraces said cylinder 14 for protecting purposes.

The piston 12 of trunnion 10 provides in cylinder 14 two spaces orchambers 14 and 14 which communicate with each other through a centralbore 25 of trunnion 10 and one or more small orifices 26 provided in thebored portion of said trunnion.

In chambers 14 14 of cylinder 14 is enclosed acharge of liquid as oil,glycerine, or the like, which leaves a free air chamber or space aboveit in chamber 14 Under shaft 2 and parallel with the same extends aspring 27 having its root fastened at 28 on the vehicle frame 17 andformed at its free end with a collar 29 providing a bearing for the balltrunnion 11 of the swivel 5,

said collar being provided with means (not shown) for insertion andengagement therein of said ball trunnion 11.

As shown in Figure 2, the leaves of the spring 27 have a. comparativelylarge width as measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis of thevehicle, to support stresses act-- ing parallel tosaid axis. 1

The swivel 5 is provided with an arm 30 connected with a steering gearof any suitable conventional design (not shown) for imparting steeringmovements and holding it in the desired posit-ion. I

In operation the load is mainly supported by the spring 27 while theoscillations of the wheel and associated partsare damped by the damperprovided by the cooperating trunnion and piston 1012 and cylinder 14.

On vertical oscillations of the wheel occurrin the piston 12 is causedto reciprocate in cylinder 14 and the liquid enclosed therein is causedto flow from and into each chamber 14 and 14 through the orifice ororifices 26, the res ective motion of parts 1012 and 14 being amped bythe resistance of said liquid to its throttled flow.

Further said damper acts also as a resilient suspension, becausethevariations in capacities of chambers 14 ----14 are not entirelyreciprocal and therefore a compression is produced in the air cushionabove the liquid in the top chamber. I

In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 the swivel member 5 has its balltrunnion 11 en gaged in a collar 29 formed on the adjacent ends ofV..-arranged bars 31--31, the other ends of these bars being arranged torotate on supports or hinges 32 fastened at a longitudinal distance fromeach other along the vehicle frame 17. The trunnion 10 of the-swivel 5is hollow and is mounted to reciprocate and rotate in a cylinder14pivoted at 15 on the rigid structure 16-18 as above described, and ithas an end perforated cover 33 through which extends a stem 84 integralwith the cylinder 14 and carrying a piston 35 providing two chambers 10-10 in said hollow trunnion 10, said chambers communicating with eachother through a restricted orifice 36 of piston 35.,

A sprin 37 is located in cylinder 14 intermediate t e head of saidcylinder and the cover 33- of hollow trunnion 10 and a mudguard 38 isprovided on the swivel member 5 to protect the movable parts.

Incoperation the V-arranged bars 31-31 withstand longitudinal stressesacting on the wheel and they are free to oscillate vertically around thecommon axis of aligned hinges 3232, the said oscillationsbeing damped bythe spring 37 and'by the resistance of the liquid enclosed in chambers10 10 to its'flow through the restricted or throttling orifice 36 gf thepiston 35 which separates said chamers. v In this construction thesuspended load is thus supported by spring 37 while the oscillations aredamped by the described liquid dam er. H

of course the prcsent'invention is not restricted to the preciseembodiments described and illustrated, but includes all theconstructions lying within the scope of the appended claims. 4 I

VVhatI claim as my invention and desire to secure by UnitedStatesLetters Patent is 1. A mounting for vehicle wheelscomprisin a leafspring extending transverse to the vehicle frame for verticaloscillation and having its root fastened thereon, the leaves of saldspring having a decreasing width from their root towards their free end,a wheel carrier supported-by the free end of said spring, a wheel hubsupported by said carrier,'means including a driving shaft and flexiblejoints for driving said wheel hub, a. rigid structure fastened on thevehicle frame at a vertical distance from said transverse member, and ashock absorber connected with said structure and wheel hub carrier. f g

2. A mounting for vehicle wheels comprising a member extendingtransverse to the vehicle frame and having one end connected therewithfor vertical oscillation, a swivel member pivoted for steering movementin the other end of said member, a wheelhub suported bysaidswivelmember, means including a driving, shaft and flexible jointsfor driving said wheel hub, a rigid structure fastened on the vehicleframe at a vertical distance fromvsaid transverse member, .a cylindricalmember pivoted on said rigid structure, a second cylindrical memberrigid with said swivel member, said cylindrical members be ing engagedwith each'other forrelative longitudinal' and rotary movements along andaround an axis passing through the pivot point of said swivel member insaid transverse memberfan'd means fordamping the relative longitudinalmovements ofsaid cylindrical members. v

' 3. A mounting'for vehicle wheels comprisin a member extendingtransverse to the vehicle frame and having one end connected therewithfor vertical oscillation, a swivel member pivoted for steering movementin the other end of said member and providing a hollow cover, a wheelhub supported by said swivel member, means including a driving shaft anda flexible joint for driving said wheel hub, said joint being located insaid hollow cover, a rigid 'structurefastened on the vehicle frame at avertical distance from said transverse member, a cylindrical memberpivoted on said rigid structure, a second cylindrical member rigid withsaid swivel member, said cylindrical members being engaged with eachother for relative longitudi nal and rotary movements alon and around anaxis passing through the ,p1vot point of saidswivel member in saidtransverse member, and means-for damping the relativelonitudinalmovements of said cylindrical memers. a

4. A mountingfor vehicle wheels comprising a member extending transverseto the vehicle' frame and having one end connected therewith forvertical oscillation, a swivel memberffor steering movement on the'otherend of'said member, a wheel hub sup orted by said swivel member, meansinclu ing a drivin shaft and flexible joints for driving said w eel hub,a rigid structure fastened on the vehicle frame at a vertical distancefrom said transverse member, said structure including a muduard bracket,a cylindrical member pivoted on said rigid structure, a secondcylindrical member rigid with said swivel member, said cylindricalmembers being engaged with each other for relative 1ongitudinal androtary movements along and around an axis passing through the pivotpoint of said swivel member in said transverse member, and means fordamping the relative longitudinal movements of said cylindrical members.

5. A mounting for vehicle wheels comprisin a member extending transverseto the ve icle frame and connected therewith for vertical oscillation, aswivel member mounted for'steering movement in the free end of saidmember, a wheel hub supported .by said swivel member, means including adriving shaft and flexible joints for driving said wheel hub, a rigidstructure fastened on the vehicle frame at a vertical distance from saidtransverse member, said structure including a mud-guard bracket and aheadlight-sup porting cross bar, a cylindrical member p1voted on saidrigid structure, a second cylindrical member rigid with said swivelmember, said cylindrical members being engaged with each other forrelative longitudinal and rotary movement along and around anaxispassing through the pivot point of' said swivel member in saidtransverse member, and means for damping the relative longiiudinalmovements of said cylindrical memers.

6. A mounting for vehicle wheels comprising a member extendingtransverse to the vehicle frame and having one end connected therewithfor verticalioscillation, a swivel member pivoted for steering movementin the other end of saidmember, a wheel hub supported by said swivelmember, means including a driving shaft and flexible joints for drivingsaid wheel hub, a rigid structure fastened on the vehicle frame at avertical distance from said transverse member, a cylindrical memberpivoted on said rigid structure, a second cylindrical member rigid withsaid swivel member, said cylindrical the pivot point of, said-swivelmember in said transverse member, and cooperating partitions in saidcylindrical members provid ingyariable chambers containing a fluid andhgvmg a throttled communication with each ot 1B1.

7. A mounting for vehicle Wheels comprising a member extendingtransverse to the vehicle frame and having one end connected therewithfor vertical oscillation, a swivel member pivoted for steering movementin the other end of said member, a wheel hub supported by-said swivelmember, means including a driving shaft and flexible joints for drivingsaid wheel hub, a rigid structure fastened on the vehicle frame at avertical distance from said transverse member, a cylindrical memberpivoted on said rigid structure,, a second cylindrical member rigid withsaid swivel member,'said c lindrical members being engaged with eacother for relative lon itudinal and rotary movements along an aroundanaxis passing through the pivot point of said swivel member in saidtransverse, member, cooperating partitions in said cylindrical membersproviding variable chambers having a throttled communication with eachother and containing a fluid, and spring load supporting meansintermediate said cylindrical members.

8. A mounting for vehicle wheels compris- 7 ing a member extendingtransverse .to the vehicle frame and having one end connected therewithfor vertical oscillation, a swivel member pivoted for steering movementin the other end of said member, a wheel hub supported by said swivelmember, means including a driving shaft and flexible joints for drivingsaid wheel hub, a rigid structure fastened on the vehicle frame at avertical .distance from said transverse member, a cylindrical memberpivoted on said rigid structure, a second cylindrical member rigid withsaid swivel member, said cylindrical members being engaged with eachother for relative longitudinal and rotary movements along and around anaxis passing through the pivot point of said swivel member in saidtransverse member, cooperating partitions in said cylindrical membersroviding variable chambers having a t-hrott ed communication with eachother and containing a fluid, and an air cushion above said fluid.

I 9. A mounting for vehicle wheels comprising a member extendingtransverse to the vehicle frame and having one end connected therewithfor vertical oscillation, a swivel member pivoted for steering movementin the other end of said member, a wheel hub supported by said swivelmember, means includin a driving shaft and flexible joints for drivingsaid wheel hub, a rigid structure fasthe pivot'point of said swivelmember in sand transverse member, means for damping 10 the relativelongitudinal movements of said cylindrical members, and protecting meanscooperating with said cylindrical members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GUIDO FORNACA.

